Fourth Grade Newsletter
September 3, 2013
Volume 4, Issue 1
Goshen Elementary School
8701 Warfield Road Gaithersburg, MD 20882
Phone: (301) 840-8165 * Fax (301) 840-8167
Upcoming Events
Announcements and Reminders

September 2ndNo School/Labor Day
 September 2nd –
Volunteer Orientation @6:30
PTA Meeting @7pm
 Look for your child’s white Goshen Grizzly folder every Wednesday.
It will have important notices and graded papers in it. Please return
the folder the next day.

September 4thPTA Back to School Picnic
5-7pm
 Your child has homework every weekday night (MondayThursday). This will include reading a “just right” book for 20-30
minutes, a spelling bingo activity, and a math worksheet (which
will typically be 1 sheet for the entire week). Your child’s weekly
homework sheets should be returned every Friday. Students
should also practice their basic math facts.

September 24thEarly Release @ 1pm

September 25thNo School – Rosh Hashanah

 Your child’s assignment book contains his/her nightly homework
assignments. In addition, your student’s daily behavior will be
recorded in his/her assignment book. Please discuss your child’s
behavior with him/ her and sign the assignment book nightly.
September 26th- Cultural
Arts Assembly

September 26h –
PTA Movie Night

Please remember to keep your child’s lunch account up-to-date. Do
not send money in daily. Instead, send in a check weekly, bi-weekly or
monthly. Also, don’t forget to write your child’s pin number on the
check!
Thanks for your cooperation in these matters as we work together for the
success of each child!!
Fourth Grade Specials
Each week, fourth graders have P.E., music, art, and computer lab. It is
essential that students dress appropriately each day for the special they
have that day. On art days, students should wear older clothes or bring a
smock. Students should wear tennis shoes on the day that their class
attends P.E.
Fourth Grade Specials Schedule
Art
Computer
Music
Lab
Johnson
Weir
Huntt
Page
Monday
Friday
Wednesday
Tuesdasy
Tuesday
Week A
Tuesday
Week B
Thursday
Week A
Thursday
Week B
P.E.
Wednesday
Friday
Monday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
Friday
Monday
Page 2 of 5
Fourth Grade Newsletter
Goshen Elementary School
Fourth Grade Behavior Policy
We are GRRREAT!! We are RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE and READY TO GO!!
Paw Prints
Students collect Paw Prints they have earned in
“Paw Pouches”. Paw Prints will be given out
liberally for recognizing positive behavior. When
a student is showing RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY,
or that they are READY TO GO, they can earn a
paw print from any staff member in the building.
The more paw prints they earn, the greater their
chances are of being pulled from our Friday
raffle!
Paw Parties
Once our class earns 1,000 paw prints, we will
have a “Paw Party!” This is a party that the
children will vote on to celebrate being
RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and READY TO GO as
a class!
Our Goshen Pledge
Goshen Grizzles are GRRREAT! We are:
Respectful: I promise to respect myself
and others
Responsible: I promise to be a
responsible student
Homework Policy
Ready To Go: I promise to always be
ready to go
Reading for 20 minutes each night
-Students can read aloud or silently, and should be reading a "Just Right" book (they can
read the words and understand what they are reading)
- Please initial your child’s weekly homework sheet to show that he/she has ready for 20-30
minutes each night

Math Homework (usually Monday-Thursday)
-Weekly worksheet with either a problem to work on throughout the week or a few
problems for each day

Spelling Homework (6-8 assignments over the course of the sort (2 weeks))
-Students will be given a weekly Bingo sheet with a variety of options to choose from.
- Students will also be given bi-weekly word wall words and challenge words to practice in
addition to their spelling group sort. Students will be tested on their word wall words along
with their spelling sorts, but challenge words are optional.

Page 3 of 5
Fourth Grade Newsletter
Goshen Elementary School
Reading
MT
Learning Goals by Measurement Topic (MT)
Language:
Vocabulary
Literature
Students will be able to . . .





identify and describe story elements (setting, characters, plot).
identify and compare different narrator’s points of view.
use text evidence to support ideas.
make inferences using text support.
identify and compare themes within literature (stories, poems, plays).

define and use content specific vocabulary.

identify figurative language and explain author’s purpose for using figurative language.

use context clues to determine meaning of words and phrases.
At home, your child can . . .
 read books with you every night (historical or realistic fiction, poems, etc.).
 visit the public library often.
 read different versions of the same story which show different points of view (ex: Rumpelstiltskin and
Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter).
 discuss stories read with peers and adults.
Possible questions:
o
What is the setting of the story? How does the setting affect the story? Could the story take place in a different
setting?
o
What character traits does this character have? What does the character say or do to help you determine these
traits?
o
What is a theme of the story? How do you know?
o
Is the text written in first or third person point of view?
 talk about ways to figure out the meaning of the unknown words.
o You said ______. I think _____ means_______, because…
o What clues are in the sentence, picture, and title or nearby sentences?
o This word looks like _____, so it must be related.
 establish rules and guidelines for sharing ideas at family meetings. For example, don’t interrupt, make eye contact,
and listen attentively.
Page 4 of 5
Fourth Grade Newsletter
Goshen Elementary School
Math
Social Studies
 Construct and interpret a variety of maps using map elements
 Use photographs, maps, charts/graphs, and atlases to describe geographic characteristics of
MD & US
 Identify and locate natural/physical features and human-made features of Maryland
Identify and locate natural/physical features and human-made features of the United States
 Describe and analyze population growth, migration, and settlement patterns in MD & the US
 Describe how people adapt to, modify, and impact the natural environment
Fourth Grade Newsletter
Goshen Elementary School
Science
Page 4 of 4
Home of the Grizzlies
 Observe and compile a list of a variety of animals or plants in
both familiar and unfamiliar environments
 Classify a variety of animals and plants according to their
observable features and provide reasons for placing them into
different groups
 Given a list of additional animals or plants, decide whether or
not they could be placed within the established groups or does
a new group have to be added
 Describe what classifying tells us about the relatedness among
the animals or plants within any group
We’re on the Web!
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/
schools/goshenes/
Fourth Grade Teachers’
Email Addresses:
Please remember to send in 2-liter bottles with your
child to help build our ecosystems!
Lauren Huntt
[email protected]
Writing
 Introduce a topic clearly, state opinion, and create an
organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to
support the writer’s purpose.
 Provide reasons that are supported by facts or details
 Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases (for instance, in
order to, in addition)
 Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion
presented
Alyssa Johnson
[email protected]
Ashley Page
[email protected]
Mai-Anh Weir
[email protected]
Katie Techman
[email protected]
Michelle Sottong
[email protected]
Ann-Marie Wickson
[email protected]
We want to hear from YOU!
We would love to get feedback from you on what you like about the newsletter, what you would like to see changed, ideas you have,
questions you have, etc. Please fill out the bottom of this slip and return to your child’s homeroom teacher
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